International Children’s Games opens in Inner Mongolia

Yu Renjie, deputy mayor of Ordos, delivers a welcome speech at the 8th International Children’s Games. [Photo/WeChat account of Ordos]

The 8th International Children’s Games opened at Ordos Sports Center in the city of Ordos, North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Sept 26.

Sponsored by Inner Mongolia sport bureau and Ordos government, the event was held by Ordos sport bureau.

Young athletes from China, Russia and Mongolia gathered in the city to compete in 11 sports categories, including athletics, judo, taekwondo, freestyle wrestling, shooting, archery, table tennis and basketball. 

The logo of this year’s games features five teenagers cycling around a blazing flame, signifying the unity of the three countries and the competition’s principles of “friendship, progress and future”. 

Yu Renjie, deputy mayor of Ordos, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony which was hosted by Wu Gang, director of the organizing committee of the event and deputy director-general of the Inner Mongolia sports bureau, in which he extended a warm welcome to all who had traveled to watch the games. 

All the referees at the games were from the three participating countries –– with many of them having previously refereed top international-level events. 

The 8th International Children’s Games is an annual sports event hosted by China, Russia and Mongolia –– with each hosting the event in turn.

In 2009, the first International Children’s Games was held in Ulan Bator, capital city of Mongolia. The event is designed to promote relations and exchanges between the three countries, particularly among young people.

Cheerleaders perform at the opening ceremony of the 8th International Children’s Games. [Photo/WeChat account of Ordos]